Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-12
KeRNsrowN OR WINCHESTER.

AS frequently happened in the fights OF the
civil war, the Confederates designated the bat
tie OF March IS by one name the Federals by
another Ian the north it is kno Wi as the hat
tie OF Winchester In the south as the battle
OF Kernstown
Shields. to deceive jackson. concealed
most OF his division in an out OF the way spot
two miles from Winchester a small guard
was left in that village. March % Turner
Ashby's cavalry came galloping into Win.
chester in pursuit OF Shields. They drove
back Lis pcllets. Apparently there was only
a small rear guard of Union troops at Win
chester There was a sharp attack, which
was repealed by the Federals, but the much
SCARED veteran Shields was wounded again;
a fragment of shell broke his arm.
Gen. Banks had remained with Shields
division up to this time. But the morning of
March %, feeling certain that Stonewall
jackson would not attack, he started to
Washington Shields thought differently.
however. and with his broken arm in sling
made ready for the battle of WINCHESTER.
At 2 o'clock Jackson came mp with his
whole force, colors flying. lie stopped at
Kernstown, three miles south Of Winchester.
Ashby had encamped there with his cavalry
after the skirmish of the day before Shields
force was upon ridge not far from Kerns-
town, though jackson did not know how
large it was. His men were wearied out with
marching, but he ordered an immediate and
hot attack on Shields right upon the ridge
near Kernstown. He hoped to sever Shields
line and cut him off from Winchester.
Jacksons men charged up the ridge with
great spirit, and were met with a vigorous
artillery fire. Shields managed to hold the
Confederates off till he had brought his re-
serves into line: then he attacked with his
whole force.
There was a fierce fight of three hours. and
then the battle Of Winchester or Kernstown
was over Stonewall jackson was defeated.
He lost two guns and 200 men in killed,
wounded and prisoners Shields lost 544 ac-
cording to the record.
Next day the citizens of Winchester, headed
by the mayor, came out to bury the Con-
federate dead who had been lying where they
fell upon che bloody field. A deep, wide pit
was dug, and there in one common grave,
SeVeru hundred ueaQ men IN gray Were
buried The southern writer, Pollard, says:
Scarcely family in the country but had
relative theren
Banks returned at once from Washington
and set off in pursuit of Jackson, who had re-
treated rapidly, leaving dead and wounded
behind. Banks pursued thirty miles, till his
men were too exhausted to go farther He
stopped at Woodstock to rest jackson con-
tinued retreatinR till he came TO Harrison
burg, where he remained till April 10, en-
deavoring to recover himself after the battle
of Kernstown.
1t was a severe Confederate defeat at
Kernstown. But there was no loss Of enthu-
siasm for Jackson among his wearied and
fleeing men.
"Why is old jack better general than
Mosesr asked one of his soldiers, conundrum
fashion. Answer: Because it took Moses
forty years to lead the Israelites through the
wilderness, and Old Jack would have double
qnicled them through in three days.
April 10 Jackson crossed the south fork Of
the Shenandoah. He was thus within easy
reach of Johnston at Gordonsville.